War: Coast to Coast

Instead of withdrawing to Position Charlietwin perimeters around Seoul
and Pusan (TIME, Dec. 25)Douglas MacArthur made a bolder decision:
hold a line across the Korean peninsula, just below the 38th parallel.
Since the line was about 150 miles long, it was not continuous but a
series of strong points, with R.O.K. divisions apparently stationed on
the right flank. In case of a cave-in on the right flank, the line
could be pulled back around Seoul to form a semicircle with both flanks
anchored on the Yellow Sea.

It was an appropriate time and setting for another MacArthur miracle, if
he could perform...